Israeli diplomatic employees conducting a labor dispute are protesting their pay by losing their suits and showing up to work in jeans and sandals.
The workers' pay committee reports that foreign ministry employees receive approximately half the compensation of their colleagues in the defense ministry and intelligence corps.
The partial strike is already affecting Israeli diplomacy. On Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov without any ceremony, because the foreign ministry's visitors' department did not organize one, as part of the strike.
The dispute has become so heated that Israeli ministry drivers have even abandoned foreign dignitaries during their travels, forcing the diplomats to request car service from their own embassies.
The workers' pay committee reports that foreign ministry employees receive approximately half the compensation of their colleagues in the defense ministry and intelligence corps.
The partial strike is already affecting Israeli diplomacy. On Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov without any ceremony, because the foreign ministry's visitors' department did not organize one, as part of the strike.
The dispute has become so heated that Israeli ministry drivers have even abandoned foreign dignitaries during their travels, forcing the diplomats to request car service from their own embassies.